Iran gave Hamas missile technology

"We cannot send arms to Gaza because of the siege, but we have provided them [the Palestinians] with our experience in manufacturing Fajr 5 missiles and today this missile is being manufactured [by Palestinians] in large numbers," Israel Radio quoted Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ali Jafari as saying on an Iranian television channel.

It is the first time Iran has publicly admitted the link, when asked to comment on the issue in recent days, Iranian officials evaded the question, the report said.

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Rahmin Mehmanparast said Tuesday it is the duty of all nations, especially Islamic countries, to take action to defend the Palestinian people.

Since the start of Operation Pillar of Defense, militants in Gaza have fired a number of Fajr 5 missiles towards Tel Aviv, Rishon Lezion and Jerusalem. In the beginning of the military offensive, the Israeli army assessed that a large number of Fajr rockets in Gaza were destroyed in air force strikes on weapons stockpiles.

There is concern in Israel that Iran may attempt to re-arm terror groups in Gaza with rockets once the hostilities end, Haaretz said. Israeli intelligence has been cooperating with Western intelligence agencies and have increased monitoring of Iran's smuggling network, the paper said.